My Take on the RH Bill

Though I have not read the Bill comprehensively, I think some aspects of it are worth following, as what I have noticed while doing some once-overs. To me it just makes good, practical sense not to create more life more than you can responsibly rear. 

Poor families grow even larger because they don’t know any better. They obviously do not have the financial capability to avail of contraceptives, number one. Add to this the church's coercion by way of eternal damnation. Take them together and you have a population explosion. To some of these families, they might as well take comfort in the idea of strength by numbers - more children equals more people bringing food to the table. 

And though this may be true on the one hand, we do know that it is far more complicated than that. The economic, spiritual and emotional aspects of raising children and bringing them up to become effective, healthy, and responsible members of society, are challenges even the most powerful, educated and wealthy parents know only too well.

So, what to do?

I say, use contraceptives. BUT (and this is a big but), not the abortive types. Personally, I would only prefer those methods of contraceptives that prevent the union of the egg and the sperm cells, which in turn leads to fertilization. It is the government’s responsibility to make sure that available contraceptives in the market are safe and duly approved by BFAD.

I don’t find the use of non-abortive contraceptives to be immoral (and there’s biblical proof to support this) – the act of doing it between unmarried couples is. In this regard, the churches (and parents) are to be the ones responsible. They should be more stringent in instilling moral values. They should be leading by example. Otherwise, we could only expect the moral condition to go further downhill.

Of course not everyone is moral. A lot of people just couldn't (wouldn't) contain their sexual cravings - all the more reason to be protected, what with the proliferation of sexually transmitted diseases.

As to why we are immoral depends on so many factors, but primarily because:

• We are humans. We are imperfect. Temptation is sweet and we are only too easy to give in.  
• Our parents did not bring us up with strong moral values.
• Peer pressure. What the majority does, we follow, because we think that that is the coolest thing to do.  
• We live in a society where double standards are the norm. Our leaders both in the church and in the government are classic examples of people saying one thing and doing another. And they even have the audacity to be called leaders.

I think what’s causing this unwarranted uproar against the RH bill is primarily due to the church’s meddling. Use of non-abortive contraceptives by married couples should not be an issue anymore. The church is doing the blame game and points its fingers to the state for what it failed to do in its own ranks – keeping the spiritual health of the flock in check.

This should be one issue off the list on the debate for this bill.